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Ramble and ride in the Cotswolds

Classic itinerary day-by-day

Tap on each day’s photo to view your hotel’s website.

1. Day one

Arrive in Oxford

Arrive in Oxford and check into your hotel located close to the heart of the city. Enjoy the treasures of this beautiful city today and stroll through the lovely colleges of the University with their magnificent architecture and gardens. Take in the museums, galleries and libraries galore, and perhaps a concert or play. Discover the little tea rooms and fine restaurants, the unique shops and back streets and the river backwaters dotted with punters and rowing eights.

2. Day two

Oxford to Eynsham

Today your host will meet you at your hotel and run through the itinerary. Then begin your route along the Thames Path, which leads you through Oxford and beyond. You walk through the unspoilt meadows of the Upper Thames, which is very wild in parts but dotted with cosy pubs, the occasional lock and relaxed boaters. Meadows give way to gentle hills and ancient woodlands as you head into the Cotswold hamlet of Eynsham.

10 miles (16 km)

3. Day three

Eynsham to Bourton on Water

Your cycling equipment will be delivered to your hotel this morning ready for your ride today. Pedal to the old woollen town of Witney and discover the beautiful valley of the River Windrush. Nestled here is a string of romantic villages like Minster Lovell bearing ancient honey coloured stone buildings and thatched village pubs. Burford’s bustling high street is one of the most picturesque in the Cotswolds; so too is Bourton on Water where the Windrush flows through the main street. You will spend the next 2 nights here.

25 miles (40 km)

4. Day four

Circular walk from Bourton on Water

Your walk today includes all that is outstanding about the Cotswolds – idyllic valley hamlets, wolds with views and fine stone buildings. Picturesque water meadows lead to the charming hamlets of Lower and Upper Slaughter. Crossing the River Dickler beside a mill you then head uphill to the Cotswold market town of Stow on Wold with its characterful market square and antique shops. Great vistas and the odd hill and village mark your return route to Bourton and a perfect walk.

Optional 10 miles (16 km)

5. Day five

Bourton on Water to Chipping Campden

Pedal upstream along the Windrush valley for a while, and then follow one of its tributaries through hidden villages to find Snowshill with its fine gardens and manor house. A short uphill past lavender fields takes you to Broadway Tower – a folly with refreshments and panoramic views of the Cotswolds and far beyond. Not far away is one of the great gems of the area – Chipping Campden, where you will stay for the next 2 nights.

20 miles (32 km)

6. Day six

Circular walk from Chipping Campden

Follow the Cotswold Way on its dramatic path down the chalk escarpment to the chocolate box village of Broadway. After lunch, wend your way through the hills and woodland to the view at Dover’s Hill and then back to Chipping Campden.

Optional 10 miles (16 km)

7. Day seven

Chipping Campden to Bledington

The last day of this tour is one of our all time favourite rides using hidden bridleways and tiny lanes. It gives you an opportunity to visit the famous gardens at Hidcote Manor and a string of typical Cotswold villages with their honey coloured stone cottages and cosy inns. Stop in the market town of Moreton in Marsh and pedal on for the finest farm shop and café on earth. Your overnight stay is in the delightful local inn at Bledington where you leave your cycling equipment.

16 or 23 miles (26 or 37 km)

8. Day eight

Depart Kingham

With Kingham station just a mile or so down the road for trains to Oxford and London, depart at your leisure.

Luxury itinerary day-by-day

1. Day one

Arrive in Oxford

Arrive in Oxford and check into your hotel located in the city centre. Take your time to soak up the treasures of the 'city of dreaming spires'. Stroll through the historic colleges of the University with their magnificent architecture and pretty gardens. Visit a museum, gallery or library, and perhaps attend a concert or play. Pause for afternoon tea in a quaint tea shop or indulge in one of the city's gourmet restaurants, shop 'til you drop in the boutique shops or wander aimlessly through the back streets and the river backwaters, filled with students in punts and rowing boats.

2. Day two

Oxford to Eynsham

After breakfast, your host will meet you at your hotel and run through the trip itinerary and answer any questions you have. Your route today follows the Thames Path through Oxford and beyond. The walk is through the unspoilt meadows of the Upper Thames, very wild in parts but dotted with cosy pubs, the occasional lock and relaxed boaters. Meadows give way to gentle hills and ancient woodlands as you head into the Cotswold hamlet of Eynsham, where your route ends for today. Take your time to enjoy a celebratory refreshment at the charming Talbot Inn before we transfer you back to your Oxford hotel for a second night.

10 miles (16 km)

3. Day three

Eynsham to Lower Slaughter

We will transfer you and your bikes back to Eynsham in the morning, ready for your ride today. Hop aboard and pedal to the old woollen town of Witney, and discover the gorgeous valley of the River Windrush. Here you'll find a string of quaint romantic villages like Minster Lovell, full of old honey-coloured stone buildings and thatched village pubs. Continue on to Burford - its bustling high street is one of the most picturesque in the Cotswolds - and then to Bourton on Water, where the River Windrush flows alongside the main street. From here it is a short hop to idyllic Lower Slaughter for your base for the next two nights.

27 miles (43 km)

4. Day four

Circular walk from Lower Slaughter

Your walk today gives you the chance to take in many of the highlights the Cotswolds are so famous for – idyllic hamlets nestled in valleys, 'wolds' (hills) with gorgeous views and charming old honey-coloured buildings. Make your way through picturesque water meadows into the quaint little hamlet of Upper Slaughter. Cross the River Dickler beside a mill and then head uphill to the Cotswold market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, with its characterful market square and antique shops. The return route to Bourton includes further viewpoints, rolling hills and the odd village, rounding off an absolutely fantastic day of walking.

Optional 10 miles (16 km)

5. Day five

Lower Slaughter to Chipping Campden

Today you're back on your bike again. After a hearty breakfast, climb into the saddle and follow your route upstream along the Windrush valley for a while, before continuing along one of its tributaries, past hidden villages to find Snowshill, with its fine gardens and manor house. A short ascent past fragrant lavender fields leads you to Broadway Tower – a famous landmark folly with a cafe serving refreshments and panoramic views of the Cotswolds and far beyond. Not far from here lies one of the great gems of the Cotswolds – Chipping Campden, which will be your base for the next two nights.

22 miles (35 km)

6. Day six

Circular walk from Chipping Campden

Today you walk along the Cotswold Way, as it winds dramatically down the chalk escarpment to the little 'chocolate box' village of Broadway. Pause for a nice lunch, and then continue on through the hills and woodland to the view at Dover’s Hill. From here, the route leads back to Chipping Campden. Another glorious day of walking!

Optional 10 miles (16 km)

7. Day seven

Chipping Campden to Bledington

The last day of this tour is one of The Carter Company's all-time favourite bike rides, which utilises hidden bridleways and tiny tranquil backroads. It gives you an opportunity to visit the world-famous gardens at Hidcote Manor as well as a whole raft of typical Cotswold villages, complete with charming old stone cottages and cosy pubs. Pause to explore the market town of Moreton in Marsh, and then continue along your route to reach Daylesford Organic - surely the finest farm shop and café on earth. Save some space for a coffee and a cake here, and stock up on some very fine quality seasonal English produce. Your overnight stay is in Kingham, a short ride away, in a pub which serves fantastic locally sourced food. A perfect end to the trip!

16 or 23 miles (26 or 37 km)

8. Day eight

Depart Kingham

After a leisurely breakfast, you can depart as and when you're ready. Kingham station is close by, with regular trains to Oxford and London,

discover the beautiful valley of the River Windrush and a string of romantic villages…